State Representative Bob Nicholas (R-Cheyenne) was arrested the day before Thanksgiving for viciously beating his 19 year old son while on vacation in Florida.

Several witness saw Rep. Nicholas punch his son, push or knock him to the ground and then kick him at least five times. The police found that the son had abrasions and welts on his neck as well as a foot-sized mark on his ribcage with what appeared to be the pattern of shoelaces imprinted on it.

Abusing a mentally disabled adult is a third degree felony in the state of Florida. Nichols was released on Thanksgiving on a twenty thousand dollar bail.

Nicholas intends to fight the charges and denies any wrong doing,

“This is an instance of perception and reality being two very different things”

He added,

“Patrons at the restaurant obviously felt that I was being too physical with him and called law enforcement. Not knowing the circumstances, I may have done the same thing.”

Nicholas’ son suffers from seizures and has a condition similar to autism. While I, myself, am relatively new to the world of having an autistic child, I’m fairly certain that kicking one hard enough to leave the imprint of your shoelaces is not a recommended form of therapy and falls far outside the boundaries of “corporal punishment” as Nicholas disingenuously described it.

Rep. Nicholas expects to have the matter settled before his court date in late December and has stated he will not resign his seat. “I don’t think I committed a crime, so why would I?” was his response when asked.

Because your constituents deserve more than a man who will repeatedly kick his mentally disabled son in the ribs as “corporal punishment,” that’s why.